POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN

The report provides the first systematic assessment of snow leopard abundance in Wangchuck Centennial National Park, identifying breeding populations in the Central and Western Park Ranges. Using camera traps and SECR models, it found mean densities of 2.74 individuals/100 km² in the Central range and 3.36 individuals/100 km² in the Western range, while the Eastern range showed very low activity. The study highlights a correlation between snow leopard density and the availability of blue sheep, noting that WCNP densities are low compared to similar regions in Nepal and India, likely due to high co-predator richness and limited prey. The authors recommend satellite telemetry to study habitat connectivity and community-based conservation to mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

• The survey identified 9 adult snow leopards in the Central Park Range and 5 adults (plus 2 sub-adults) in the Western Park Range. In the Eastern Park Range, only one individual was photographed, which was insufficient for population modeling.
• Estimated snow leopard population size in the Central Park Range is between 9 and 11 individuals (mean: 9), while the Western Park Range is estimated between 5 and 17 individuals (mean: 6).
• Mean snow leopard population density was calculated at 2.74 individuals per 100 km² in the Central Park Range and 3.36 individuals per 100 km² in the Western Park Range.
• Blue sheep population densities were estimated at 1.8 individuals/km² in the Central Park Range and 2.4 individuals/km² in the Western Park Range, while no confirmed sightings occurred in the Eastern Park Range.
• Snow leopard densities in WCNP are considered low compared to other Himalayan range areas such as Jigme Dorje National Park in Bhutan, Phu Valley in Nepal, and Hemis National Park in India, potentially due to a scarcity of prey and a high number of co-predators like Tibetan wolves.
• DNA analysis of scat samples identified 5 unique snow leopard individuals in the Western Park Range, with 3 of those individuals also identified in the Eastern Park Range, suggesting high migration connectivity between the ranges.
• Climate change is identified as a significant threat, with predictions that Bhutan could lose nearly 50 percent of its current snow leopard habitat to an advancing treeline as the eastern Himalaya becomes warmer and wetter.

APA

WWF International (2016). POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/804/84ks49y2ag_WCP_SL_Survey_Final_Technical_Report_2016.10.05_Final_Lo_Res.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/804/84ks49y2ag_WCP_SL_Survey_Final_Technical_Report_2016.10.05_Final_Lo_Res.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN |date=October 2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/804/84ks49y2ag_WCP_SL_Survey_Final_Technical_Report_2016.10.05_Final_Lo_Res.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016population, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{POPULATION STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF SNOW LEOPARDS IN WANGCHUCK CENTENNIAL NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = oct, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/804/84ks49y2ag_WCP_SL_Survey_Final_Technical_Report_2016.10.05_Final_Lo_Res.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }